Daily Devotions
Psalms
Psalm 49:7 "None of them can by any means redeem his brother..."
Day 83 – Psalm 49
“None of them can by any means redeem his brother…” Psalm 49:7
SEVERE LIMITATIONS OF WEALTH
Some think that there are no limitations if one is very wealthy. Hence, many are driven to acquire wealth at any cost. However, the solemn reality is that there are severe limitations of wealth, especially with reference to the spiritual realm.
“None of them can by any means redeem his brother,
Nor give to God a ransom for him-”
Psalm 49:7
1. “None of them can by any means redeem his brother”
a) The word “redeem” has deep spiritual significance.
b) As a word it has rather secular roots:-
i) It has the idea of purchasing something.
ii) It is like going to a pawnshop to redeem an item.
c) In its theological significance:-
i) Redemption has to do with the purchase of a soul.
ii) It is rescuing a soul from certain death.
iii) Wealth cannot purchase a soul from destruction.
2. “Nor give to God a ransom for him”
a) What is the worth of a soul?
b) What kind of ransom would we have to pay to redeem a brother?
c) No one can “give to God a ransom” for a sinful brother who come up for judgment.
THE PARABLE OF THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS
We are reminded of the parable that Jesus told about a rich man and a poor man called Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). For all the wealth of the rich man, he could not offer redemption for any of his brothers. Wealth offers absolutely no advantage in the realm of the spiritual and eternal.